Is IE6 Dead Yet? It was being circled by vultures until Microsoft recently announced support for the browser would continue into 2014, the BBC reports. What does this mean for web developers and clients? IE6 will fade away sooner than that, much the way Netscape 4 did only a couple of years after CSS pundits were pounding their fists over how important it was for developers to support it. Why did Netscape 4 eventually disappear? I think it was due in no small part to companies deciding it was below their baseline browser support limit, and users of the browser switched when they realized too much of the web was looking like a toddler’s crayon scratchings.
Why would Microsoft extend support for this antique browser as they push for people to upgrade to IE8? Could be a lot of things. Maybe one of them is trying to keep existing Windows users happy (including enterprise users) during a period where many are turning to other comparatively hassle-free operating systems. Whatever the reason, now is a good time for developers and clients to decide whether to continue our support for the browser, or to join the growing list of organizations moving on.
Wow, this is Really old news. Microsoft has ALWAYS been committed to supporting the version of IE that ships with an OS for the lifetime of that OS. Dont like IE6? Simply stop the “Save XP” campaigns.
I’m tired of people whining that they are left with this old dead-weight technology while at the same time complaining that they dont want this new unproven technology.
Put up or shut up.
Comment by Tristan — August 21, 2009 @ 5:42 am
Hi Tristan, thanks for your comments. I definitely hear your frustration, but for the purpose of context, I should point out that this is a web developers blog, and we’re discussing IE6’s extended support lifecycle that has come to light, not the lifecycles of operating systems, despite the fact that the two are linked. The question being asked here is, should we as web developers continue to support IE6 through this bump it has received from Microsoft.
Comment by Nelson — August 21, 2009 @ 8:06 am